Sheet-feeding machine.



V. GARNER.

I SHEET FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2, I914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Qeuenfar' krwe Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

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SHEET FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2. 1914.

Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VERNON GARNER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED PRINTING MACHINERY COMPANY, or BOSTON, MAINE.

' Application filed June 2, 1914. .Serial No. 842,339.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, VERNoN GARNER, a I citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Feeding Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof;

. My invention relates to sheet-feeding machines inv which successive sheets are separated from a bank, or pile, of sheets, and are then automatically carried forward and presented, one at a time, to a printing press, orother machine, which is to operate on such sheets. I

The object of my present invention, among other things, is to provide simple and eflicient mechanisms whereby the pile, or bank, of sheets shall be fed forward a slight distance with every stroke, or cycle, of the combing devices, no matter whether the length of time the combers act, or the comb ing interval, be short or within certain constant limits, but further that the forward 'feed of the bank of sheets should be increased whenever the combers act for a period exceeding a certain predetermineds amount. Therefore, according to my improved device, there will be a slight forward feed of the bank of sheets, with every completed cycle of the combing devices, which forward feed will be increased whenever the length of the comb. exceeds a predetermined amount. v In the accompanying drawings this improved bank feed mechanism is shown incorporatedin a sheet-feeding machine such as I have shown and described .in my appli cation .for patent, filed April'7, .1914, Serial 7 Number 830,139, but itfwil-l be. understoodthat my improvement .{m'ayf be embodied in omitted, Fig. 2' shows, a, side-view .of my mechanism when the lengthof the comb ex-- Specification of Letters Patent.

MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF SHEET-FEEDING MACHINE.

, Patented A110. 10,1915.

ceeds a predetermined amount; and Fig. 3 shows a v1ew,similar.to Fig. 2, when the length of the comb is normal or less than the predetermined amount.

Referring to figures, 1 is the upper loadlng board, or feed table, of my machine, whlch table may be supported in the frame 2 as shown in this-figure; the upper feed belts 3 travel over pulleys 4 and 5, and ex tend over the upper surface of the table 1,

and around the drum 6 to gradually feed forward the pile, or bank, of sheets resting on the upper table.

-7 is the lower loading board, or feed table, attached to the frame 2, and 8 are the lower feed belts passing over the pulleys 9 and 10 journaled in the frame 2, said belts 8 eX- tending over the upper surface of the table 7 to advance the bank of sheets to the combing devices. The drum 6 is secured to theshaft 11 and is rotatable therewith within the frame 2; 12'are a series of curved guides forming a curved throat in conjunction with the periphery of the drum 6. This curved throat leads from the upper feed table 1 to the lower feed table 7, and the bank of sheets, in passing through this throat, is reversed in position. The guides 12, are supported upon the transverse rods 13 and 1-1.. Hollow brackets 15 and 16 are secured at either end of the rods 13 and 14 respectively, and the frame 2 has similar brackets 17 and 18. Coil springs-19 and 20 are secured to the ends of the rods 13 and 1 1 respectively and also to the frame 2. These springs are of greater tension than the nor- 5 mal pressure brought to bear on the guides 12 by the forward movement and reversing ofthe bank of sheets. r

thethroat, in order not only to press the b'ank of sheets. against the drum 6, but also various forms of sheet feedin'g machines} jdirect them into the throat. ,Beferring to the idrawings'lfi gurelshows a side elevation of "my,fimprovdjmecha nism, certain non-essential parts bei-ng The drum shaft 11 has secured to it the gear 22, which through a series of pinions 23 and 24, conengagesfw ith the sprocket wheel 28 toward the forwand part of the machine which is carried on the shaft 29 journaled in the frame 2, which shaftv 29 also has affixed to 'it the pulleys 10 over which the lower feed belts 8 pass to advance the bank of sheets.

30 is a ratchet secured to the shaft 29 and cooperates with the pawl 31 attached to the rock lever 32. loosely mounted on the shaft 29. The co'illf spring 33 secured to the rock lever 32 and the frame 2 serves to normally retract the'lever 32 with the pawl 31, over he ratchet 30. p

34is a link connecting the end of the lever 32 with the lower end of the bell-crank lever 35 journaled in the stay-shaft 36; the upper end of thellever 35 carries the cam roller 37 adapted tocotiperate with the cam 38 secured to the actuating cam shaft 39.

40 is a stop lug onflthe link 34, and 41 is a latch lever pivoted on the bracket 42 at 43.

The forward end 44 of the lever 41 is adapt ed toengage with the lug 40, while the rear end 45 carries a'cam roller 46 adapted to cooperate with the cairr'47 secured to the ratchet segment of the swinging arm 48 which swings in unison with the combing wheel mechanism hereinafter to be described. The coil spring 49 norma-lly pulls the end 45 so that the lever 41 is in the position shown in Fig. 3, which downward movement is limited by having theforw'ard end 44 contact with the under surface of the link 34. \Vhen the combing devices are shortin their operation, or below a predetermined amount, the lateral movement of the link 34 through the lever 35 and cam 38 is limited to the space'shown in Fig. 3 between the lug 40 and the end 44 of the lever 41 because the roller 46 is not raised by the cam 47, and the pawl 31 may drop back only one tooth in the ratchet 30; the subsequent forward movement of the pawl 31 through the lever 32, link,34, bell-crank lever 35 and roller 37 on the cam 38 rotates the shaft 29 with the sprocket 28 and pulley 10 to advance the bank of sheets a slight distance over the feed table by the mechanism heretofore described. However, when the combingtime exceeds the predetermined amount and is long enough so as to increase the swing of the arm 48 sufiiciently to allow the cam 47 to engage with the roller 46 as shown in Fig. 2, the latch lever 41 is rocked on the pivot 43, which depresses the end 44 so that the lateral backward movement of the link 34 is through the lever increased in proportion with thelength of the forward swinging movement of the arm 48 and the lug 40 passes beyond the end 44 and the pawl 31 on the lever 32 drops back several teeth on the ratchet 30; the subsequent forward movement of the pawl 31,

32, link 34, bell-crank lever 35 and roller 37 on the cam 38 rotates the shaft 29 with the sprocket 28 and pulley said feed. mechanism,

10 to advance the bank of sheetsa' greater distance proportioned to the number of teeth on the ratchet over which the'pawl 31 passes in its backward movement.

49is a rock lev ei connected with the trip mechanism, controlled by the edge of the advancing sheet, which is pivoted to the I understand my invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, is a constantly rotating power shaft attached to any suitable source of power. 56, 57 and 58 are gear wheels, the latter being secured to the shaft 59 which operates the swinging arm 48 through a rock tube journaled about said shaft 59. 60 and (31 are similar gear wheels, the latter being secured to the cam actuating shaft 38 as shown; 62 is one of the combing wheels mounted on the shaft 63 which is constantly rotating through the sprocket chains 64 and 65, the chain 65 receiving its rotation from the shaft 59. This construction enables me to advance the bank of sheets a slight distance with each stroke, or cycle, of the combing devices when the length of the comb is short or below a predetermined amount, which distance for the advance of the bank of sheets is increased whenever the length of the comb exceeds a predetermined amount, the entire forward movement being controlled by the length of t-heforward swing of the ratcheted arm 48, swinging in unison with the combing wheels.

It is obvious that the advance of the bank in both instances does not occur until afterthe swinging arm 48, which controls the eX- tentof motion of the bar 34, has permitted the pawl 31 to drop back over the teeth of the ratchet 30.

I claim as my invention 1. I a sheet feeder, the combination with means for operating a combing device, of means for feeding a bank of sheets to the combing device, and means for operating said feed mechanism, when the combing device is out of action, a slight distance with each cycle of the combing device and a greater distance whenever the length of the comb exceeds a predetermined amount.

, 2. In a sheet feeder, the combination with means for operating a combing wheel, of

'means for feeding a bank of sheets to the combing wheel, and means for operating when the combing wheel is out of act on, a slight distance wlth each cycle of the combing wheel and a greater distance wheneverthe length of the comb exceeds a predetermined amount.

3. In a sheet feeder, the combination with means for operating a combing wheel, of means for feeding a bank of feathered sheets to the combing wheel, and means for operating said feed mechanism, when the combing wheel is out of action, a slight distance with each cycle of the combing Wheel and a greater distance whenever the length of.

the comb exceeds a predetermined amount.

4. In a sheet feeder, the combination with an upper feed table, of a lower feed table, acurved throat between said tables, feed belts for advancing a bank of sheets through said throat, a combing wheel above the lower feed table, and means for operating said feed belts, when the combing wheel is out of action, a slight distance with each cycle of the combing wheel and a greater distance whenever the length of the comb exceeds a predetermined amount.

5. In a sheet feeder, the combination with means for operating a combing device, of means for feeding a bank of sheets to the combing device comprising a ratchet and cooperating pawl, and means for operating said feed mechanism, when the combing device is out of action, a slight distance with each cycle of the combing device and a greater distance whenever the length of the comb exceeds a predetermined amount.

6. In a sheet feeder, the combination with means for operating a combing wheel, of

means for feeding a bank of sheets to the combing wheel comprising a ratchet and cooperating pawl, and means for operating said feed mechanism, when the combing wheel is out of action, a slight distance with each cycle of the combing wheel and a greater distance whenever the length of the comb exceeds a predetermined amount.

7. In a sheet feeder, the combination with means for operating a combing'wheel, of means for feeding a bank of feathered sheets to the combing Wheel comprising a ratchet and cotiperating pawl, and means for operating said feed mechanism, when the combing wheel is out of action, a slight distance with each cycle of the combing wheel and a greater distance whenever the length of the comb exceeds a predetermined amount.

8. In a sheet feeder, the combination with means for operating a combing device, of

means for throwing said device into action,

means controlled by the sheet for throwing said device ,outof action, means for feeding a bank of sheets to the combing device, and

means for operating said feed mechanism,

when the combing device is out of action, a slight distance with each cycle-of the combing device and a'greater distance whenever the length of the comb exceeds a predetermined amount.

9. In a sheet feeder, the combination with means for operating a combing wheel, of

means for throwing said wheel out of ac-- tion, means controlled by the sheet for throwing the said wheel out of action, means for feeding a bank of sheets to the combing wheel, and means'for operating said feed mechanism, when the combing wheel is out of action, a slight distance with each cycle of the combing wheel and a greater distance whenever the length of the comb exceeds a predetermined amount.

10. In a sheet feeder, the combination with means for operating a combing wheel,

of means forthrowing said wheel out of.

ever the length of the comb exceeds a predetermined amount.

11. In a sheet feeder, the combination with an upper feed table, a lower feed table, a curved throat between said tables, feed belts for advancing a bank of sheets through said throat, a combing wheel above the lower feed table, means for throwing said wheel into action, means controlled by the sheet for throwing .said wheel out of action, and means for-operating said feed belts, when the combing wheel is out of action, a slight distance with each cycle of the combing wheel and a greater distance whenever the length of the comb exceeds a predetermined amount.

12. In a sheet feeder, the combination with an upper feed table, of a lower feed table, a curved throat between said tables, feed belts for advancing a bank of sheets through said throatoperated by a ratchet and cooperating pawl, a combing wheel above the lower feed table, means for throwing said wheel into action, means controlled by the sheet for throwing said wheel out of action, and means for operating said pawl said pawl over said ratchet, when the combing device is out of action, a single tooth with each cycle of the combing device and a plurality of teeth whenever the length of the comb exceeds a predetermined amount.

14. In a sheet feeder, the combination with means for operating a combing device, of means for throwing said device into action, means controlled by the sheet for throwing said device out of action, means of teeth whenever the length of the comb for feeding a bank of sheets to the combing exceeds a predetermined amount.

device comprisinga ratchet and cooperating I pawl, and means for operating said pawl 5 over said ratchet, when the combing device Witnesses:

is out of action, a single tooth with each GEORGE F. SIMPSON,

cycle of the combing device and a plurality GEORGE T. KILGoUm VERNON GARNER. 

